Chapter One

It had been quite a few moons since Brightclan moved into their new territory. Things were going very smoothly. Prey was bountiful, the mountain stream always flowed, and two new batches of kits had been born. Nightbird was stalking a muskrat from behind a rock, down on the floor of the canyon. Sunstar had run into a rouge, who told him this place  was called Bryce Canyon. The rouge ended up joining as an elder. Nightbird's green eyes gleamed with anticipation, watching the juicy piece of prey sit up to eat a seed it had found. Nightbird slowly advanced towards the creature, each paw placed expertly in front of the other without a sound.

Skilled as she was, it was even easier to hunt in the canyon, where there were hardly any plants or twigs to give you away. After hesitating for awhile to make sure the muskrat stayed in place, she made the final leap, swiftly killing they prey by hooking it into the air and biting onto it's neck. Nightbird turned with the prey in her mouth, then went back to where she had hidden the rest. When she got there, she saw tabby tom sniffing around there."What are you doing!?" She hissed furiously, fur raised.

The tom looked up in surprise."Oh! Is this yours?" He asked, backing away."What did you think?" Night bird quickly grabbed he muskrat and bounded over to defend her prey."Sorry, but you shouldn't leave your prey laying around like that. Someone may take it." The tom dipped his head while Nightbird gathered up her prey."What's it to you?" She asked in a muffled voice through her prey. She then whipped around and starting leaping up the canyon to camp."Where you going?" He asked, following her up. When Nightbird reached the ledge outside of camp, she stopped and dropped her prey."I'm going back to camp to feed my clan." She said curtly to the tom.

"I'm Fox by the way." He purred in a friendly manner. Nightbird eyed him strangely."You must be a rouge." She scoffed."I'm Nightbird, deputy of Brightclan." Fox's eyes widened."Wow, your clan moved here? Cool! Maybe I could meet them?" Nightbird laughed, shaking her head."No way, my clan doesn't take kindly to rouges. Bye." Before Fox could say anything else, Nightbird picked up her prey once more a squeezed through the tunnel into camp.

"Nice hunt." Doveflight purred from the elders den as Nightbird deposited her catch on the fresh-kill pile. Nightbird smiled at her."Thanks." She then padded to the stream, lapping up some cool water. She shook out her pelt, looking around. You would have never guessed that this clan had to go through a fire and a long, dreary travel. Everything was going so well. Nightbird stood up once again and went to Sunstar's den."Sunstar?" She called into the dark den."Oh, come in Nightbird." He purred. He slipped in, letting the top of the entrance rub her back."I was just wondering if you wanted me to organize any border patrols." Sunstar purred again."Nightbird, always doing her job." He smiled."Sure, set down the boundaries." Nightbird nodded and quickly exited the den.

Nightbird looked around the clearing once more."Whirlwind, Blacksun, join me on a patrol." She called, heading towards the entrance. The two warriors followed her swiftly, slipped into the tunnel once by one. As soon as they all emerged, Nightbird felt her companions tense. Fox was still there."Hey, Nightbird!" He purred, padding over. Nightbird hissed."I told you to go, our clan  doesn't take kindly to rouges." She spat at him. He just didn't get it, did he?"Well, why don't I join? I've heard so much about it, and I would like to." Nightbird looked the Whirlwind, her brother, for an opinion."You'd have to ask our leader, Sunstar." He said after a silent conversation.

Fox nodded and headed towards the entrance."Not yet!" Nightbird jumped in front of him."You will come with us on border patrol to set down our boundaries better, then we will take you to Sunstar." She said, glaring at him, her eyes a green-glass fire. Fox nodded with an idiotic smile on his face, then turned to follow the clan cats on their patrol. He pointed the best areas to claim territory, and to avoid most rouges. They eventually returned back on the ledge outside of camp."So, let's see Sunstar!" Fox smiled. The other three rolled their eyes."This way." Nightbird ordered as she slipped in.

They each came out, surrounding Fox in case he got an ideas."Sunstar?" Nightbird called in again, feeling silly that it was the second time today."We have someone who wants to join." She glanced at Fox."Send them in." Sunstar called back. Nightbird reeled on Fox."Go on, he called you." Fox nodded and padded into the den. She could see Whirlwind and Blacksun straining their ears."Scat you two!" She growled lightly, making them go. Eventually, Sunstar and Fox came out of the den, Sunstar leaping onto the BrightStone."All those old enough to catch their own prey gather around the BrightStone for a clan meeting!"

Of course, everybody did as he said."We have a new warrior joining us today. Please welcome Foxleap!" Everyone cheered as the tabby tom puffed out his chest pridefully. Nightbird scoffed at his pride."That's a weakness in character." She murmured under her breath, yet she couldn't help but laugh at his silly nature. She glanced at Sunstar, wondering why he had let Foxleap into the clan so easily.